2008 Lotus Europa Range

[Mark H]

2008 Lotus Europa Range

Group Lotus plc unveils a new updated and significantly enhanced range of Europa’s at the

78th annual Geneva International Motor Show. The new entry level Europa is priced at £27,950

MSRP / 37,500, with the range topping Europa SE available for a competitive £32,995 MSRP

/ 41,500 (Euro prices are without taxes, delivery & other related costs).

These new Europa variants have been designed and developed especially for European

customers and will be sold exclusively across Europe from June 2008. The Europa is now

available to a larger target audience with the entry level car providing a more accessible way

to own a Europa and the SE designed to appeal to those who are even more style conscious

and want increased levels of performance.

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc commented: “As the true driver will know, this Europa

range, offers access to Lotus’ unique DNA for those who perceive the Elise and Exige as a

little too uncompromising for everyday use. The new Europa SE sits at the more refined end of

the Lotus spectrum, providing a terrific mix of performance, agility and style, but incorporates

Lotus’s values and heritage”.

The Europa has a mid-mounted 2 litre turbo charged engine, tuned in the SE with an all new

calibration to 225 PS and with 300 Nm of torque to offer effortless cruising capability. Even

though the Europa is engineered with more relaxed driving characteristics it provides amazing

performance, with 0-60 mph in the SE dispatched in 5.5s (0-100 km/h in 5.7s estimated) and

the sprint to 100 mph (160 km/h) taking just 13.0s (estimated). Given the legal opportunity to

stretch its legs, the Europa SE will hit a top speed of 143 mph (estimated).

The Europa now offers increased levels of comfort over the Elise and Exige whilst enhancing

the focused driving experience that you would expect from a Lotus. These models are both

equipped with race car derived double wishbone suspension to give an exceptional driving feel

with Lotus DNA. The sleek Europa body work, together with the assistance of the flat

underbody, generates positive downforce to provide balanced handling at speed.

The Europa SE has attractive and light weight new wheels, which are shod with wider, high

performance tyres, for increased levels of grip. These new high performance wheels are larger

with 17” rims up front, and larger 18” rims on the rear. The new wheels house high

performance AP Racing four pot brakes and larger (308 mm) diameter discs.

The SE interior has been updated by Lotus Design with a stylish new design that works in

harmony with the premium avant-garde Ice White of the Geneva Show car. The interior is

finished using 4 hides of soft, lightweight high-grade leather, to ensure that every surface has

a luxuriant tactile feel.

As with all 2008 Lotus road cars, the Europa and Europa SE come with driver and passenger

airbags and an engine start button as standard. The Europa interior is furnished with leather

sports seats and comes as standard with a high quality stereo system.

 

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[Mark H]

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